Zaka Ashraf has been reinstated as PCB chairman by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), following a long-winded and complicated legal process. This is a remarkable turnaround of fortunes for Ashraf, who had been suspended from the post in May 2013 by the same court, after it ruled he was elected via a "dubious" and "polluted" process.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Ashraf welcomed the High Court ruling.

"I respected court orders before and I respect it now, and will continue to work for the betterment of cricket in Pakistan," he said. "Cricket is a non-political game and it is supported by millions in Pakistan. This legal process has hurt Pakistan cricket badly."

Details of the court order are yet to be released, though. It would seem, however, that Ashraf has been reinstated on the interpretation that the original appeal of Nadeem Suddle (who first contested Ashraf's election) has been dismissed. This will only be confirmed on Thursday morning, when the full judgment is released.

Ashraf was elected chairman in May, under a new constitution, in which the role of the patron of the board - at that point the president of Pakistan - had been changed. Where before the patron simply appointed a chairman for however long a term he chose, under the new constitution, the patron would recommend two candidates for the post, who would then be interviewed by a nomination committee. The nomination would then have to be approved by a restructured board of governors.

In Ashraf's case, the problem with election was at two levels. One, it was done secretively and in a hurry, ahead of the country's general elections in which the party Ashraf derived his power from - the Pakistan People's Party - was eventually voted out. Two, the composition of the board of governors was questionable, with no representation on it of the entire province of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous and arguably its most dominant in terms of cricket players.

Subsequently, Najam Sethi was appointed as interim chairman in June by the prime minister - the new patron of the board - Nawaz Sharif. However, Sethi was not appointed as per the specifications of the IHC, and so in July the court overturned all the major decisions taken by him and restricted his powers to the overseeing of the day-to-day administration of the board. At that point, the court also ordered fresh elections by October 18.

However, with it being evident the elections would not take place by the stipulated deadline, the board's patron, Sharif, dissolved the PCB's governing board on October 15 and created an interim management committee (IMC), the members of which unanimously chose Sethi as its head. The PCB had been run by the IMC till date.

Asked whether the PCB would appeal the judgment, Sethi said it wasn't up to him to make that decision.

"This is a question that you must ask IPC and government of Pakistan," he said. "I was not, nor am I now, a petitioner or appelant. I was appointed by the PM. He has to decide [the] course of action."

Both Najm Sethi and Zaka Ashraf are political appointees. Pakistan cricket needs someone with cricketing knowledge which would come only after playing lots of test cricket in different conditions and who is aware the problems the cricketers are facing.

POSTED BY
on | January 16, 2014, 15:09 GMT

These managers and coaches is only to interrupt the players, and their performance.

POSTED BY
on | January 16, 2014, 6:35 GMT

11 Players should perform well in the ground, doesn't matter who is the Chairman.

POSTED BY
on | January 16, 2014, 6:34 GMT

nothing is going to be right anywhere.. Some Big Decision required from Zaka Ashraf about captaincy and coach of Pakistan Team and also bring new players after the big WC. We really need this..

POSTED BY
Waqs77
on | January 16, 2014, 5:20 GMT

A welcome news for pakistan cricket...he is by far a visionary man who really worked for the betterment of pakistan cricket after the disastrous tenure of ijaz butt. I hope the current Govt. would let him work his way now without their political involvement.

POSTED BY
mensan
on | January 16, 2014, 2:30 GMT

A very good news. I always liked his approach and policies. The only mistake he made was to bring Whatmore. I hope he has learned his lesson well.

POSTED BY
ZkAneela
on | January 16, 2014, 2:22 GMT

Huge drama expected now...let see what happens??

POSTED BY
Desihungama
on | January 16, 2014, 2:15 GMT

I tend to agree with Nadeem's assessment. For some reason right any major world event there is political hoopla in Pakistan cricket administration. Why? Do we not want our own people to succeed?

POSTED BY
azurecharms
on | January 15, 2014, 23:47 GMT

This is court's no bouncer against sethi who was trying his best to convert an ODI to a 5 day test match. He would have earned lots of respect but alas! Power thy charm! it could not be; he just wanted to cling to power rather than abide by court's order to hold a genuine election. Court did the only sensible thing which was possible under the circumstances.

POSTED BY
shahnbej
on | January 15, 2014, 19:08 GMT

Good change. Zaka is way better than Najam.

POSTED BY
spellbinder76
on | January 16, 2014, 19:00 GMT

Both Najm Sethi and Zaka Ashraf are political appointees. Pakistan cricket needs someone with cricketing knowledge which would come only after playing lots of test cricket in different conditions and who is aware the problems the cricketers are facing.

POSTED BY
on | January 16, 2014, 15:09 GMT

These managers and coaches is only to interrupt the players, and their performance.

POSTED BY
on | January 16, 2014, 6:35 GMT

11 Players should perform well in the ground, doesn't matter who is the Chairman.

POSTED BY
on | January 16, 2014, 6:34 GMT

nothing is going to be right anywhere.. Some Big Decision required from Zaka Ashraf about captaincy and coach of Pakistan Team and also bring new players after the big WC. We really need this..

POSTED BY
Waqs77
on | January 16, 2014, 5:20 GMT

A welcome news for pakistan cricket...he is by far a visionary man who really worked for the betterment of pakistan cricket after the disastrous tenure of ijaz butt. I hope the current Govt. would let him work his way now without their political involvement.

POSTED BY
mensan
on | January 16, 2014, 2:30 GMT

A very good news. I always liked his approach and policies. The only mistake he made was to bring Whatmore. I hope he has learned his lesson well.

POSTED BY
ZkAneela
on | January 16, 2014, 2:22 GMT

Huge drama expected now...let see what happens??

POSTED BY
Desihungama
on | January 16, 2014, 2:15 GMT

I tend to agree with Nadeem's assessment. For some reason right any major world event there is political hoopla in Pakistan cricket administration. Why? Do we not want our own people to succeed?

POSTED BY
azurecharms
on | January 15, 2014, 23:47 GMT

This is court's no bouncer against sethi who was trying his best to convert an ODI to a 5 day test match. He would have earned lots of respect but alas! Power thy charm! it could not be; he just wanted to cling to power rather than abide by court's order to hold a genuine election. Court did the only sensible thing which was possible under the circumstances.

POSTED BY
shahnbej
on | January 15, 2014, 19:08 GMT

Good change. Zaka is way better than Najam.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 18:32 GMT

good news sethi was political appointment and zaka ashraf was elected by electoral process and will remain form 4 more years and after 4 years there will be another election so only continuity of electoral process in PCB chairman election can improve cricket in Pakistan. Zaka ashraf was the only guy who reinstated the PCB constitution and held PCB association elections which was declined by high court thanks God Noe they realized their mistake and reinstated ashraf.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 17:41 GMT

wow a Peoples Party person Zaka Ashraf is going to work under MNL Nawaz Shareef. There is going to be big drama in Pakistani cricket until Mr. Zaka leaves PCB.

Sad that just before two important WC events we have political issues in PCB. We will never be able to win WC at all under these circumstances.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 16:55 GMT

Nail in the coffin for misbah

POSTED BY
Sports4Youth
on | January 15, 2014, 16:18 GMT

So finally notihing has changed. Thats how it functions in the sub-continent. Ultimately it is the political powers that will prevail.

POSTED BY
asim229
on | January 15, 2014, 15:36 GMT

No point in doing this because it will cause further chaos in the PCB setup and Pakistan cricket because Zaka Ashraf was a total political appointment and the political setup which appointed him doesn't exist anymore. If ISB high court wanted justice then they should have done fair re-elections in PCB or should have appointed their own chairman with a cricketing background.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 15:19 GMT

Very Nice ... this man can do something for Pakistan Cricket i'm sure ....

POSTED BY
getsetgopk
on | January 15, 2014, 15:08 GMT

ohhh Islamabad High Court, what a piece of work you are!!! Just one question, why did you remove Ashraf in the first place and had all this hoopla for close to a year? I bet you have no idea, be interesting to see that court order, but i'm not blaming you since you had nothing better to do than to dissolve and disrupt a rare proper functioning of PCB only to reverse it a year latter. Anyways, good to see Ashraf back, he's an intelligent and hard working man and should never have been removed.

POSTED BY
drnaveed
on | January 15, 2014, 14:38 GMT

mr zaka ashraf was and perhaps is a better choice than najam sethi ,though they don't have a cricketing background.

POSTED BY
rizwan1981
on | January 15, 2014, 14:29 GMT

Not only the PCB but the country in general is a basketcase.The only person who can rescue the Pakistan team is Imran Khan.

On the question of players , why is Fawad Alam still ignored by the selectors- Here is a guy who scored a a daddy hundred on DEBUT and OVERSEAS and yet is on the sidelines

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 14:03 GMT

I don't understand the people commenting on selection of players that should have nothing to do with the chairman. That is strictly the job of the selection Committee as for how good of a job did Zaka Ashraf or Najam Sethi did only time will tell Najam Sethi was barely on the job for 6 months and that to with many interruptions. Zaka Ashraf also never got a full term. Appoint or elect someone and give them atleast a 3 year term to prove themselves.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 13:53 GMT

Zaka Ashraf's appointment was on political grounds, almost same is the case with Najam Sethi. High court is playing ping-pong just to put their foot in the mess.

Well let's face it, the Chairman of PCB is going to be a Political seat. So let the execetive of the country choose this head, or make a committee to choose this head. I don't think courts have anything to do in here.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 13:47 GMT

pleasent to read for me atleast zaka is man of action and honest

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 13:45 GMT

Another drama scene in PCB serial

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 13:37 GMT

I fail to understand what was the logic and value addition of the intervention made by the august court?

POSTED BY
avmd
on | January 15, 2014, 13:35 GMT

Very bad news, he had no credentials, was just a political appointment. Very disappointing news. One step forward, three steps back, Pakistan Cricket.

POSTED BY
Desihungama
on | January 15, 2014, 13:29 GMT

Musical chair. That's what I call it. These were the kids who were left out playing musical chair in their schools by their peers. Kids are innocent so they can sense the rot amongst them. This is beyond bizarre now. Do these people have a clue as to what they are upto or do they simply not give a hoot? How can a court judge it's own judgement to be dubious and call it kosher?

POSTED BY
Captain_Tuk_Tuk
on | January 15, 2014, 12:45 GMT

Najam Sethi was doing a good job unfortunately Zaka Ashraf is restored.

POSTED BY
RaoFarhanPervaiz
on | January 15, 2014, 12:26 GMT

Hopping to see safarshi out of the team --- He is a good man.. ...

Drop Hafeez, Ahmad Shehzad and Rahat from test squad
Drop Umer Akmal from ODI squad and give chance to Rizwan
Please no more chances to Razzaq and Malik

POSTED BY
keptalittlelow
on | January 15, 2014, 12:25 GMT

Pakistan Cricket is on the downhill spiral while the Politicians are only interested in their power struggle, as a result everything is interim in PCB, GOD save Pakistan Cricket.

POSTED BY
Anwar-Lara
on | January 15, 2014, 12:20 GMT

Now if people want to know what's wrong with PAK cricket, the answer is written in the above mentioned article.. POLITICS..

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 12:16 GMT

a good decision by islamabad high court,now i think pcb can only concentrate on pakistan cricket team

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 12:11 GMT

Who wants to be a chairman? Music Chairs starts. Technically both should be kicked out

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 12:11 GMT

Who wants to be a chairman? Music Chairs starts. Technically both should be kicked out

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 12:16 GMT

a good decision by islamabad high court,now i think pcb can only concentrate on pakistan cricket team

POSTED BY
Anwar-Lara
on | January 15, 2014, 12:20 GMT

Now if people want to know what's wrong with PAK cricket, the answer is written in the above mentioned article.. POLITICS..

POSTED BY
keptalittlelow
on | January 15, 2014, 12:25 GMT

Pakistan Cricket is on the downhill spiral while the Politicians are only interested in their power struggle, as a result everything is interim in PCB, GOD save Pakistan Cricket.

POSTED BY
RaoFarhanPervaiz
on | January 15, 2014, 12:26 GMT

Hopping to see safarshi out of the team --- He is a good man.. ...

Drop Hafeez, Ahmad Shehzad and Rahat from test squad
Drop Umer Akmal from ODI squad and give chance to Rizwan
Please no more chances to Razzaq and Malik

POSTED BY
Captain_Tuk_Tuk
on | January 15, 2014, 12:45 GMT

Najam Sethi was doing a good job unfortunately Zaka Ashraf is restored.

POSTED BY
Desihungama
on | January 15, 2014, 13:29 GMT

Musical chair. That's what I call it. These were the kids who were left out playing musical chair in their schools by their peers. Kids are innocent so they can sense the rot amongst them. This is beyond bizarre now. Do these people have a clue as to what they are upto or do they simply not give a hoot? How can a court judge it's own judgement to be dubious and call it kosher?

POSTED BY
avmd
on | January 15, 2014, 13:35 GMT

Very bad news, he had no credentials, was just a political appointment. Very disappointing news. One step forward, three steps back, Pakistan Cricket.

POSTED BY
on | January 15, 2014, 13:37 GMT

I fail to understand what was the logic and value addition of the intervention made by the august court?